


.U 



Calendar No. 352 



60' "^H Congress, I 
^«^ Session, f 



SENATE. 



I 



Report 
No. 314. 



CARE AND PRESERVATION OF THE HERMITAGE. 



February 28, 1908. — Ordered to be printed. 



UA.C, 
Mr. Briggs, from the Committee on the Library, .submitted the fol- 
lowing: 



REPORT. 

[To accompany S. 4797.] 

The Committee on the Librar^^, to whom' was referred the bill 
(S. 4797) for the care and pre.servation of the Hermitage, have had 
the same under consideration, and report it back without amendment. 

The purpose of said bill is to appropriate $25,000 to aid the Ladies' 
Hermitage Association of Tennessee to properly care for and pre- 
serve the tomb and the old homestead and grounds surrounding the 
same, knoum as the Hermitage, where President Andrew Jackson 
lived and died, and where he is buried. 

The bill appropriates $25,000, of which sum $5,000 is to be imme- 
diately available, for such repairs and improvements as are urgently 
needed, and the balance is to be invested in United States bonds, or 
the bonds of the State of Tennessee, or such other securities as may 
be approved by the Secretary of the Treasun,', such fimd to be held 
forever by the Ladies' Hermitage Association of Tennessee, a charit- 
able organization organized under the laws of Tennessee, and the 
interest only applied to the care, improvement, and preservation of 
the grounds, tomb, and buildings, known as the Hermitage. 

The Hermitage is situated about 12 miles from Nashville, in David- 
son County, Tenn. The estate on which General Jackson lived before, 
at the time of, and after he w^as President, and where he died and 
where his remains now lie, originally consisted of 500 acres of land. 
In 1856, the State of Tennessee purchased the Hermitage from 
Andrew Jackson, jr., the adopted son of General Jackson. One 
section of the act of the general assembly of Tennessee, under au- 
thority of which the Hermitage was purchased, provided: 

That the governor of this State shall be authorized and required to tender the said 
property to the General Government of the United States, upon the express condition 
that it be used as a site for a branch of the Military Academy at West Point; and in 
the event the General Government does not accept the tender thus made in two years 
from the expiration of this session of the general assemldy. then the governor shall be 



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2 CARK AND PKKSERVATION OF THE HERMITAGE. 

.) 
authorized and re({uired to have 50 afres hiid off, including the tomb, the mansim, 
and the spring and spring houses, and expose the l)alance to public sale, either us a 
whole or in lots, on tinie, or for cash, as to him uiav seem best, and make his repo.t to 
the legislature of 1859-60. 

The civil war coining on siiortly after the purchase, the tender to 
lithe Federal Government was never made. 

The State has paid in principal and interest for said estate the sum 
of $151,680. 

In 18S9 the legislature of Tennessee chartered the Ladies' Hermit- 
age Association and conveyed to it in trust 25 acres of the "Her- 
mitage tract, upon which are located the mansion house and tomb of 
Gen. Andrew Jackson." The purposes of said conveyance are fully 
set out in section 2 of said act, which is as follows: 

That the object for which this trust is created is to permit and encourage the Ladies' 
Hermitage Asso(nation to improve and beautify the niansic^n and other houses and 
the tomb, as well as the 25 acres upon which they are located, in such a manner as 
they may deem best, and to keep them in such high state ol improvement and beauty 
as will display to the world the respect, love, and affection which should ever live in 
the hearts of an admiring people for their illustrious and departed chieftain: Provided, 
That visitors shall be allowed access to the grounds free of charge under reasonable 
rules to be prescribed by said society. 

Since said conveyance in 1889, the Ladies' Hermitage Association 
has had the care, supervision, and preservation of the Hermitage. 
Ihe State has aided the association to a limited extent, appropriating 
for such purpose during the entire period from 1889 to the present 
time about S9,700, but the major portion of the burden of the care 
and preservation of the Hermitage has been borne by this associa- 
tion of devoted and i)atriotic women. They have raised by A^oluntary 
contributions and otherwise, and expended on the caie and preserva- 
tion of the ])ropertv, and in the purcliase of Jackson relics, about 
S27,721. 

The Ladies' Hermitage Association has no source of income, and 
must depend for the funds with which to keep and preserve the 
Hermitage upon charity, or upon such contributions as the patriotic 
people of the State are voluntarily impelled to make. 

When the President visited the Hermitage in October, 1907, and 
learned that the j^atriotic women who compose the Ladies' Hermi- 
tage Association were thus preserving and caring for the home and 
grave of President Jackson he suggestetl that the nation should, by 
a proper appropriation, aid those devoted ladies in their patriotic 
work. 

In the message of the President, sent to this Congress on Decem- 
ber 4, 1907, he said: 

I solemnly recommend to the Congress to provide funds for keeping up the Her- 
mitage, the home of Andrew Jackson, these funds to be used through the existing 
Hermitage Association for the preservation of the historic building, which should be 
ever dear to America. 

President Jackson rendered valuable and enduring service to his 
country, both as a soldier and statesman. He impressed himself 
upon the people of America as few of the nation's great men have 
done. He was a major-general in the Regular Army of the United 
States before he became President and its commander in chief. It 
is fitting and proper that the nation which he served so long, and 
with such conspicuous ability and fidelity, should aid in a material 

D. orD. 



CAKP: and rKESKRVAlION OF THE HERMITAGE. 3 

avay in the preservation of his tomb and liome. The Hermitage 
\lioulcl be kept for all time as a place to which all Americans, who so 
ciVsire, can go to study on the very ground where he lived and died, 
th\ strong and inspiring character of Andrew Jackson, and thus have 
quic*x:ened within them a higher and broader patriotism. 

President Jackson, while a Tennessean, was more. He was an 
American, and any State in the Union can and does claim him as one 
of the nation's heroes. 

The place occupied by President Jackson in our countr^^'s history 
is unique and distinctive. The nation has produced few like him, 
and will scarcely produce his like again. He was a soldier of rare 
genius and unsurpassed courage. His militarj^ achievements on 
behalf of the Republic would, alone, amply justify the American 
people in expending the sum asked, to preserve his house and tomb 
as a place of national pilgrimage. We erect monuments to our dis- 
tinguished citizens and soldiers; we preserve and care for the ceme- 
teries where soldiers who give up their lives in their country's 
service sleep, wdiy should we not help to care for and preserve the 
tomb and home of one of the nation's greatest soldiers and statesmen? 



Appendix A, 

AN ACT To purchase the Hermitage. . 

"\Miereas it is good policy in a republican government to encourage habits of industrjr 
and to inculcate sentiments of veneration for those departed heroes who have rendered 
important services to their country in times of danger; and 

Whereas Tennessee acknowledges no superior in feelings of patriotism and devotion 
to the Union, in whose cause the lamented Andrew Jackson acquired so much dis- 
tinction: Therefore, 

Section 1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of the State of Tennessee, That the 
governor of the State be empowered, and it is hereby made his duty, to purchase for 
the State of Tennessee 500 acres of the late residence of Andrew Jackson, deceased, 
including the mansion, tomb, and other improvements known as "the Hermitage." 

Sec. 2. Be it further enacted, That whenever the said purchase is made and the title 
to said property secured to the State, that the governor is hereby authorized to cause 
the bonds of the State to be issued and to indorse the same in an amount not exceeding 
$48,000, the proceeds of which to be appropriated by him in cari-jdng into effect the 
pro\'isions of this act: Provided, That the governor and secretary of state, upon inves- 
tigation, shall be satisfied said price is not exorbitant. 

Sec. 3. Be it enacted, That the governor of this State be authorized and required to 
tender the said property to the General Government of the United States, upon the 
express condition that it be used as a site for a branch of the Military Academy at West 
Point; and in the event the General Government does not accept the tender thus 
made in two years from the expiration of this session of the general assembly, then the 
governor shall be authorized and required to have 50 acres laid off, including the 
tomb, the mansion, and the spring and the spring houses, and expose the balance to 
public sale, either as a whole or in lots, on time, or for cash, as to him may seem best, 
and make his report to the legislature of 1859-60. 



Appendix 1>. 

AN ACT To conditionally convey to a board of trustees for the Ladies' Hennitage Association 2o 
acres of the Hennitage tract, including the mansion and tomb of Gen. Andrew Jackson. 

Section 1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of the State of Tennessee. That 25 
acres of the Hermitage tract, upon which are located the mansion house and tomb 
of Gen. Andrew Jackson, be, and they are hereby, conveyed in trust to the Ladies' 
Hermitage Association, and for said purpose the governor shall appoint, upon recom- 



4 TARE AND PRESERVATION OK THE HJ:RMITAGE. 

int'iidation ol the Latlifti' Hermitage Association, nine discreet male white persons 
over the age of 25 years, two of whom shall l)c residents of East Tennessee, two shaVi 
be residents of West Tennessee, and five shall be residents of Middle Tennessee. 
They shall elect one of their members president and one of their members secre- 
tary. Five members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and 
said board of trustees are hereby authorized and empowered to make and emorce 
sucli by-laws as may be necessary to put into ojx'ration and continual ex.cution 
the objects and purposes for which this trust is created. 

Sec. 2. Be it further enacted, That the ol)ject for which this trust is created is to 
permit and enrovnage the Ladies' Hermitage Association to improve and beautify 
the mansion and other houses and the tomb, as well as the 25 acres upon which they 
are located, in such a manner as thej^ may deem best, and to keep them in such high 
state of improvement and beauty as will display to the w^orld the respect, love, and 
affection which should ever live in the h«>arts of an admiring people for their illus- 
trious and departed chieftain: Provided, That visitors shall be allowed access to the 
grounds free of charge under reasonable rules to 1h> prescribed by said society. 

Sec. 3. Be it further enacted. Tliat in the event the Ladies' Hermitage Association 
should at any time fail, neglect, or refuse to improve the house, tomb, and land herein 
conveyed, and to keep them in a high state of beauty and improvement, then said 
houses, tomb, and land and such other improvements as may be upon said 25 acres 
shall revert and go to the State of Tennessee without compensation to the trustees, 
Ladies' Hermitage Association, or other corporation or person. And the State shall 
not be required to pay any money whatever for such improvements as the trustees. 
Ladies' Hermitage Association, or other person or persons, may have made upon said 
houses, tomb, or lands. 

Sec. 4. Be it further enacted. That the trustees appointed as provided in section 1 
of this act each shall hold liis ofhce for four years, and until his successor shall have 
been appointed and qualified, and all vacancies by death, removal, or expiration of 
term or otherwise shall be filled by the governor upon recommendation of the Ladies' 
Hermitage Association, as provided in section 1 of this act: Promded, The State may 
revoke this trust at will. 

Sec. 5. Be it further enacted, That all laws or parts of laws in conflict with the pro- 
visions of this act be, and they are hereby, repealed, and this act take effect from and 
after its passage, the public welfare requiring it. 

Passed April 5, 1889. 

Benj. J. Lea, 
Speaker of the Senate. 
W. L. CI.APP, 
'Speaker of the House of Representatives. 

Approved April 6,' 1889. 



A correct copy. 



RoBT. L. Taylor, Governor. 
C. A. Miller, Seaetary of State. 



Appendix C. 

Purchase of Hermitage in 1856 by the State of Tennessee, 

Amount of bonds $48, 000 

Maturity at 6 per cent in 1892 103, 680 

$151,680 

Appropriations to Ladies' Hermitage Association from 1895 to 

1897, at $600 per annum 7, 200 

Special appropriations 1901 1, 000 

Special appropriations 1905 500 

Special appropriations 1907-8 1, 000 

9, 700 

Total 161, 380 



CARE AND PRESERVATION OF THE HERMITAGE. 5 

Appendix D. 

^ From 1889, the time of the organization of the association, to 1897, when Mrs. P. H. 
Mailove took charge of the books, the receipts amounted to an average of $1,000 
perivear. Total for eight years, $8,109.48. 

Money raised and expended by Ladies' Hermitage Association. 

From June 12, 1897, to May 15, 1899 $4, 517. 26 

Prom May 15, 1899, to May 24, 1901 2, 668. 43 

From May 24, 1901, to May 13, 1903 •. 3, 421. 90 

From May 13, 1903, to Apr. 18, 1904 1, 504. 33 

From Apr. 18, 1904, to May 17, 1905 1, 415. 05 

From May 17, 1905, to May 15, 1907 4, 662. 17 

Prom May 15, 1907, to Nov. 11, 1907 1, 423. 15 

Total 19, 612. 29 

1889 to 1897 8, 109. 48 

27,721.77 

State appropriation for curator 6, 000. 00 

Appropriation for repairs, 1905 500. 00 

Appropriation for repairs, 1907 500. 00 

7, 000. 00 

Association lias raised 12, 612. 29 

Association lias expended for relics 6, 500. 00 

Balance 6, 112. 29 

This balance of $6,112.29 has been expended for repairs, fencing, trees, paint, plas- 
tering, sodding, and generally beautif>-ing ; repairing historic cabin, reroofing, build- 
ing the cottage, the arbor, the pavilion, the furnace, Jackson day lectures (Bryan), 
souvenirs, etc., to make the money with which we have done all the work, including 
the purchase of the relics which belong to the association. 



Appendix E. 

ladies' HERJIITAGE association, NASHVILLE, TENN. 

Board of directors, elected 1907. — Mrs. Mary C. Dorris, regent; Miss Louise Lindsley, 
first vice-regent; Mrs. A. M. Shook, second vice-regent; Mrs. J. W. Allen, secretary, 
Mrs. P. H. Manlove, treasurer; Mrs. M. S. Cockrill, director; Mrs. Thomas M. Steger, 
director; Mrs. B. F. Wilson, director; Mrs. Joseph M. Ford, director. 

Board of trustees. — Gen. J. W. Lewis, president, Paris, Tenn.; Hon. Percy Warner, 
secretary, Nashville, Tenn.; Col. A. M. Shook, Nashville, Gen. G. P. Thruston, N-ash- 
ville; Gen. John A. Fite, Lebanon; Hon. John W. Gaines, Nashville; Senator James 
B. Frazier, Chattanooga; Hon. S. G. Heiskell, KnoxA-ille; Hon. Lewis R. Donelson, 
Memphis. 



Appendix F. 
amended by-laws for the government of the ladies' hermitage association. 

At a meeting of the trustees of the Ladies' Hermitage Association, held at the office 
of the Union Bank and Trust Company, Nashville, Tenn.. April 27, 1899, the following 
proceedings were had: 

There were present: J. W. Lewis, J. M. Dickinson. T. A. Atchison, J. M. Head, S. G. 
Heiskell. 



b CAKE AND PRKSKKVATION OF THE H?:RMITAGE. 

J. ^^'. Li'wis was elected president t>f the Ixjard, and J. M. Dickinson was elected 
secretary. 

The by-laws, which were adopted March 15, 1897, were amended so as to read • s 
follows: 

1. The management of the affairs of the Ladies' Hermitage Association shaF be 
intrusted to a board of nine directors, five of whom shall constitute a quorum, ^o be 
elected by the meml>ers of the association at its l)iennial ineelings, all of whrje acts, 
however, shall be tinder the supervisory control of the trustees appointed by the gov- 
ernor, pursuant to the act of the legislature conveying the Hermitage property to this 
association. 

No one shall be eligible to the position of director who has not been an active member 
of the association and shall have paid her annual dues for a period of at least two full 
years next.precediug the time of election. 

2. The lirst biennial meeting of the association shall be held on the third Wednesday 
in May, 1889, and every two years therafter at such place in Nashville as may be des- 
ignated in the call. 

Directors shall have regular monthly meetings, a uniform time for which shall be 
fixed by the directors at the first meeting after their election, and such called meetings 
as may be necessary; but at least three days' notice in writing, stating the object of 
the called meeting, shall be given, and no business shall be transacted which is not set 
out in the notice. 

3. The ofhcers of this association shall consist of a regent (or president) and two vice- 
regents, secretary and treastirer, who shall be elected by the directors at the regular 
biennial meetings, and hold office until their successors shall have been elected and 
qualified. 

No one shall be eligible to the office of regent for more than two successive terms. 
All vacancies in the directory or offices may be filled by the directors at any regular 
meeting. 

4. The regent of the association shall be the supreme head of all the branch asso- 
ciations or societies which may l)e organized under the authority of the association; 
shall preside at all meetings and exercise a general supervising care over the pros- 
perity of the association, and shall make an annual report on the 1st of January of 
the condition of the association to the trustees. In her absence or disability the 
senior or junior vice-regent in order may act. 

5. The secretary shall make a record of all the transactions of the association in 
regular or special meeting, conduct all its correspondence, and do such other w'ork as 
may be pertinent to the office of secretary, including such reports as the regent may 
require. 

6. The treasurer shall receive all moneys for the association, from whatsoever 
source derived, and shall keep an accurate record thereof and pay out no money 
except upon the order of the regent or acting vice-regent, attested or countersigned 
by the secretary. The books shall be open, to the inspection of any director or trustee. 
The treasurer shall make a report in writing to the regent semiannually, upon the 1st 
of May and the 1st of November of each year; shall give l)ond with s(>curity approved 
by two or more of the trustees, in the sum of |1,000, which shall l)e increased from 
time to time as required by the trustees. 

7. The membership of the association shall consist as follows: 

First. Life members, who shall pay the sum of $25 or more, and shall be exempt 
from annual dues. Such members shall be entitled to attend all meetings of the 
association, and shall have a life admission ticket to the Hermitage free. 

Second. Members who shall pay $1 to join the association and annual dues of $1. 
The annual dues shall be payable on January 1 for the prec ding year, but no 
person shall be required to pay such dues who shall not have been a member for 
more than six months. There shall be kept by the secretary and under the super- 
vision of the directors a list of members to be known as "Active members." Any 
member can direct, either at the time of joining or at any time thereafter, that her 
name be put on the list of active members, and it shall be done. No member shall 
be entitled to vote in any of the meetings of the association who shall not have paid 
her annual dues and whose name shall not have been directed to be put on the list of 
active members at least sixty days before the privilege to vote is claimed. 

No one shall be entitled to vote at any meeting until such person shall have been a 
member of the association for at least one year next preceding the meeting at which 
the right to vote is claimed, and shall have paid at least one annual due. 

All voting by the members of the association shall be in person and not by proxy. 
Certificates of membership may be issued, signed by the regent and secretary. 



CARE AND PRESERVATION OF THE HERMITAGE. 7 

It shall be the duty of the secretary to give notice on April 1 of each year to those 
members of the association who are then delinquent in the payment of their annual 
dues for the preceding year. If any member of the association shall not by July 1 of 
any one year have paid her dues for the next preceding year, the name of such member 
shall be dropped from the r^ll of membership, and such person shall no longer be a 
member of the association. 

8. The board of directors shall have power to employ a curator and as many servants 
or laborers as they may deem necessary; to contract with any corporation, firm, or 
person for any building, improvement, material, tools, teams, wagons, and generally 
to do whatever^nay be necessary to repair, improve, or renew the mansion, house, 
tomb, and other outbuildings and fences, and to lay off, cultivate, and bi autify the 
grounds in such manner as they may deem best, provided they shall contract no debt 
exceeding the amount in the treasury. 

The board of directors shall have power to appoint from time to time irom tne 
active members such special committees as they shall see proper, but such committees 
shall at all times be under the supervision and control of the Iward of directors. 

They shall also have power to authorize any plan, system, or enterprise for raising 
funds for the association, and their assent shall be required for any project under the 
auspices or in the name of the association, and all moneys so raised .shall be duly 
reported and paid into the treasury. 

9. The curator shall have charge of all the property of the association, and shall 
reside upon the premises. He shall provide for the reception of visitors, who shall 
be allowed access to the grounds under rules to be prescriljed by the association. He 
shall take good care of the property, keeping an oversight thereof, reporting from 
time to time to the regent such matters as in his opinion may require attention. He 
shall see to the faithful execution of all contracts for improvements upon th" pr )perty, 
and shall advise with the board of directors. He shall receive such compensation as 
shall be determined by the board of directors from time to time. 

10. All rules and regulations inconsistent with these by-laws are annulled and void. 

11. These by-laws may be altered, amended, or added to at any time by the per- 
manent committee on by-laws appointed by the trustees. 

12. These by-laws shall be printed and a copy sent to every person who is 
now a member of the association within twenty days from this date. 

James M. Head, S. G. Heiskell, and J. M. Dickinson were appointed a committee 
on by-laws, with full authority to make such changes in the by-laws from time to 
time as they might deem proper. 

The meeting then adjourned sine die. 

J. M. Dickinson, Secretary. 

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LIBRPRY OF CONGRESS 



011 896 293 fi 



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